From their earliest days as a band, The Clash stood apart from their peers with their musicianship as well as their lyrics, the passionate, left-wing political idealism in the lyrics by frontman Joe Strummer and guitarist Mick Jones contrasting with the lyrical nihilism of the Sex Pistols and the musical minimalism of the Ramones. Their 1979 album 'London Calling' is considered by critics as one of the greatest albums in the history of rock music. Rolling Stone declared it the best album of the 80s.
The Clash's attitude and style, as much as their music, has influenced countless bands, both within and outside the sphere of punk rock. Often lauded as "the only band that matters," The Clash were canonized as rock saints even before they broke up. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the class of 2003. Their first five albums, ('The Clash', 'Give 'Em Enough Rope', 'London Calling', 'Sandinista!', and 'Combat Rock') to this day, continue to earn a great deal of interest from rock fans and artists alike.
Mick Jones went on to form Big Audio Dynamite after being fired from The Clash, and he more recently has produced albums by artists such as The Libertines and Babyshambles. In 2004, he formed Carbon/silicon with musician Tony James (of Generation X and Sigue Sigue Sputnik fame). Exploring various genres such as alternative rock and electronic music, he continues to collaborate with other modern groups such as Gorillaz.
Joe Strummer went on to form and front Joe Strummer and the Latino Rockabilly War and then Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros. He also had a notable solo career that involved work in films and other endeavors, often earning critical acclaim. He died on December 22, 2002, the victim of an un-diagnosed congenital heart defect. Mourned by countless punk fans, his life has been subject to several tributes and was memorialized in the 2007 documentary 'Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten'.
Bass player Paul Simonon went on to form Havana 3 A.M., a group that released a self-titled album in 1991, yet he decided to quit music in the early 90s in favour of becoming an artist. In 2006, he returned to music as bass player in a musical project together with singer-songwriter Damon Albarn. The project is often referred to as The Good, The Bad & The Queen, the name of the groups first recorded album that came out in 2007. In terms of his paintings, his well-received work notably was in an exhibition at Thomas Williams Fine Art in London.
Drummer Topper Headon released a solo album, 1986's 'Waking Up', before leaving the music business to become a taxi driver and escape the heroin addiction that cost him his legacy in The Clash. Over the years, he's had sporadic involvement in various music-related endeavors, such as being a key part of the aforementioned 'The Future Is Unwritten' film. He's currently residing in the seaside town of Dover, England.
Members:
1976 Original line-up
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing vocals
Keith Levene – lead guitar
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Terry Chimes – drums, percussion
1977
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing vocals
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Terry Chimes – drums, percussion
1977-1982 Classic line-up
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing vocals
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Topper Headon – drums, percussion
1982-1983
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing vocals
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Terry Chimes – drums, percussion
1983
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing vocals
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Pete Howard – drums, percussion
1983-1986 Final line-up
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Nick Sheppard – lead guitar, backing vocals
Vince White – lead guitar
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Pete Howard – drums, percussion
Sound of Sinners
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wash away thin air
They say it was written
In the page of the Lord
But I was looking
For that great jazz note
That destroyed
The winds of fear
Whip away the sickness
The messages on the tablet
Was Valium
As the planets form
That golden cross Lord
I'll see you on
The Holy Cross Roads
After all this time
To believe in Jesus
After all those drugs
I thought I was Him
After all my lying
And a-crying
And my suffering
I ain't good enough
I ain't clean enough
To be Him
The tribal wars
Burning up the homeland
The fuel of evil
Is raining from the sky
The sea of lava
Flowing down the mountain
The time will sweep
Us sinners by
Holy rollers roll
Give generously now
Pass the hubcap please
Thank you Lord
The lyrics to The Clash's "Sound of Sinners" are rich with religious imagery and a sense of disillusionment with beliefs that were once held. The first verse speaks of the "floods of God" washing away "thin air," which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the destruction of beliefs or ideals that no longer hold up under scrutiny. The lines "They say it was written/In the page of the Lord" suggest a belief in the bible or other holy texts as a source of divine knowledge.
Yet the singer is not content with mere religious dogma. He is looking for a "great jazz note" that can destroy the walls of Jericho - a reference to the biblical story of the Israelites using horns to bring down the walls of Jericho. This suggests a desire for a more powerful and transcendent experience, beyond what's offered by scripture alone.
The second verse uses more vivid imagery to express a sense of fear and disillusionment. The "winds of fear" are described as whipping away sickness, while "the messages on the tablet/Was Valium" suggests that the supposed cures or solutions offered by religion or medicine are ultimately empty. The singer speaks of seeing a "golden cross" as the planets form, which could be interpreted as a symbol of hope, but then says "I ain't good enough/I ain't clean enough/To be Him." This could be read as an admission of unworthiness or a rejection of the idea of a perfect, sinless being.
The rest of the song continues in this vein, with references to tribal wars, lava, and sinners being swept away by time. The lines "After all this time/To believe in Jesus/after all those drugs/I thought I was Him" suggest a disillusionment with both religion and drugs as sources of salvation or enlightenment. The final lines, "Holy rollers roll/Give generously now/Pass the hubcap please/Thank you Lord" could be seen as ironic, suggesting that even those who claim to be holy or giving may be greedy or insincere.
Line by Line Meaning
As the floods of God
Just as natural disasters like floods are blamed on acts of God, people blame God for the bad things that happen in life.
Wash away thin air
Just like water from a flood can wash away thin air, the negative circumstances in life can leave a person feeling empty and with nothing to hold onto.
They say it was written
The lyrics suggest that the Bible is the written word of God and holds the answers to life's biggest questions.
In the page of the Lord
The line further emphasizes the belief that the Bible is the ultimate authority on life.
But I was looking
Despite popular belief, the artist has been looking for something else entirely.
For that great jazz note
The singer is searching for something unique, something that stands out above everything else, much like a great jazz note in a song.
That destroyed
The singer believes that once they find that great jazz note, it will have the power to destroy anything in its path.
The walls of Jericho
A reference to the biblical story in which trumpets were used to topple the walls of Jericho, meaning once the jazz note is found, it will have the power to overcome anything in its path.
The winds of fear
Fear is a powerful emotion that can feel like strong winds pushing a person in a certain direction.
Whip away the sickness
Just like the winds whip away sickness, fear can also help a person overcome illness or other negative circumstances in life.
The messages on the tablet
A reference to the Ten Commandments on the tablets that Moses received from God. The singer suggests that instead of finding wisdom and solace in these commandments, people turn to drugs like Valium instead.
Was Valium
The artist suggests that people turn to drugs like Valium instead of seeking real answers to life's biggest questions.
As the planets form
The singer is referencing cosmic events and the creation of the universe.
That golden cross Lord
The singer is referring to the religious symbol of the cross, suggesting that the cross and the Lord are the same thing.
I'll see you on
The singer is speaking to God, telling Him that they will see Him on the Holy Cross Roads.
The Holy Cross Roads
A reference to the place where the artist believes they will meet God.
After all this time
The artist has been searching for answers for a long time.
To believe in Jesus
Despite the singer's search, they still find meaning in the story of Jesus and believe in Him.
After all those drugs
The singer has tried to use substances to find answers and has been on a journey of self-discovery.
I thought I was Him
The artist thought they could find enlightenment within themselves and become like Jesus.
After all my lying
The artist has been dishonest with others for a long time.
And a-crying
The artist has been sad and emotional for a long time.
And my suffering
The singer has experienced a lot of pain and hardship in their life.
I ain't good enough
The artist questions whether they are good enough to be the type of person they want to be.
I ain't clean enough
The singer feels like they're not pure enough to live up to the ideals that they want to live by.
To be Him
The singer ultimately wants to be like Jesus, but feels like they aren't measuring up.
The tribal wars
A reference to the ongoing conflicts between different groups of people all over the world.
Burning up the homeland
The artist suggests that tribal wars are destroying societies and ways of life.
The fuel of evil
The emotional energy that fuels evil acts.
Is raining from the sky
The singer suggests that people's negative emotions are spilling out into the world and causing problems.
The sea of lava
The singer is using metaphor to talk about the destructive power of negative emotions.
Flowing down the mountain
The artist suggests that this sea of lava is flowing out of people and causing damage to the environment around them.
The time will sweep
Time is a force that causes change in the world, and the artist suggests that it will eventually change the fate of sinners.
Us sinners by
The artist includes themselves in the group of people who have sinned and need to improve.
Holy rollers roll
The singer is referencing religious people who are very enthusiastic about their faith.
Give generously now
The artist is making a plea to people of faith to donate their resources to those who need them.
Pass the hubcap please
The singer is using this phrase as a way to request something, but its exact meaning is unclear and may represent a sense of randomness and unpredictability in the world.
Thank you Lord
The singer is expressing gratitude to God for everything they have, even if they don't have all of the answers.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES, TOPPER HEADON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@somejohndoe3004
As the floods of God
Wash away sin city
They say it was written
In the page of the Lord
But I was looking
For that great jazz note
That destroyed
The walls of Jericho
The winds of fear
Whip away the sickness
The message on the tablets
Was Valium
The planets form
That golden cross, Lord
I'll see You on
The holy crossroads
After all this time (Judgement day)
To believe in Jesus (Judgement day)
After all these drugs (Judgement day)
I thought I was him (Judgement day)
After all my lying and crying and my suffering
I ain't good enough, I ain't clean enough to be him (On judgement day)
Oh no, oh no
The tribal wars (Judgement day)
Are burning up the homeland (Judgement day)
The fuel of evil (Judgement day)
Is raining from the sky (Judgement day)
The sea of lava (Judgement day)
Flowing down the mountain (Judgement day)
The time will sweep (Judgement day)
Us sinners by (Judgement day), by, by
After all these years (Judgement day)
To believe in Jesus (Judgement day)
After all these drugs (Judgement day)
I thought I was him (Judgement day)
After all my lying and crying and suffering
I ain't good enough, I ain't clean enough to be him (On judgement day), no, no
I've taken one ride (Judgement day), go, go, let's go, (Judgement day)
Through Las Vegas (Judgement day)
You go to hell (Judgement day)
I'm given these sixguns (Judgement day)
Seven and elevens (Judgement day)
To roll (Judgement day)
Holy rollers roll (judgement day)
After all this time (Judgement day)
To believe in Jesus (Judgement day)
After all those drugs (Judgement day)
I thought I was him (Judgement day)
After all my lying and crying and suffering
I ain't good enough, I ain't clean enough to be him (On judgement day), oh no, oh no
After all those years (Judgement day)
To believe in Jesus (Judgement day)
After all those drugs (Judgement day)
I thought I was him (Judgement day)
After all my lying and crying and suffering
I ain't good enough, I ain't clean enough to be him (On judgement day)
Holy rollers roll (judgement day)
One take, one down on this roadless road (Judgement day) (Judgement day) (Judgement day) (Judgement day)
Listen give generously now (Judgement day)
Pass the hubcap please (Judgement day)
I don't think so, thank you (On judgement day)
After all this time (Judgement day)
To believe in Jesus (Judgement day)
After all those drugs (Judgement day)
I thought I was him (Judgement day)
After all my lying and crying and suffering
I ain't good enough, I ain't clean enough to be him
Lord, lord, lord, lord
(Judgement day) (Judgement day) (Judgement day)
Hello
I'd like to thank you all for coming here this week (Judgement day)
The collection boxes (Judgement day)
Are at the end of the congregational hall
Hope to see you next Sunday (On judgement day)
Afternoon three thirty next week (Judgement day)
Cheerio (Judgement day) (Judgement day) (Judgement day)
@Roman.A.
The diverse style on the Sandinista album is amazing, really every song is a gem
@BrianAchterberg928
The Clash
THE ONLY BAND THAT MATTERS!!!
✊❤️❤️✊
@gontierfrancois8115
Everybody knows that
@shonabeggs4640
Still
@immaterialimmaterial5195
Talk about range and diversity!
@Bl4ckandBl0nde_.
Only the clash could get away with playing a gospell song and get away with it pure class
@briank.7686
Joe was asking for Jesus' forgiveness......hope Joe kept following Him....would be great to meet Joe in Heaven.
@sfender2182
@briank.7686
I read recently that Joe said something like; the most important things were a belief in God, the law, and something else I can’t recall now. I’m glad he was a believer. 🌅🌅
@purplesamurai5205
@@sfender2182Where did you read that?
@sfender2182
@purplesamurai5205
It was in the Los Angeles Times in an interview. Just enter “Joe Strummer talks about his belief in God” and the article will appear. He said we need: belief in God, and man, and law. It was a good interview!